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Alcohol-related crash kills 20-year-old passenger

Speed also a factor in 3:30 a.m. crash of a vehicle containing three 20-year-olds and an 18-year-old.

Norwalk Reflector Staff

Oct 29, 2012

Speed and alcohol are among the factors being listed in a fatal crash.

The Fremont Post of the state Highway Patrol is investigating the single-vehicle crash that occurred at 3:30 a.m. Saturday on Township Road 71A, just south of the Sandusky County/Seneca County Line Road in Seneca County's Jackson Township.

Kevin Wertz, 20, of Tiffin, was driving a 2000 Ford F-250 southbound on County Road 58 (in Sandusky County) when he failed to yield for a stop sign at the county line and lost control of the vehicle, which left the roadway and struck a ditch before overturning onto its top, troopers said.

Also in the vehicle were three passengers, Rachel Pennington, 20, of McCutchenville, Alexander Ratchen, 18, of Tiffin, and Jacob Hohman, 20, of Bascom.

Hohman was transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo by air ambulance with serious injuries. He died from his injuries later Saturday evening.

Information on any injury to the other occupants is unavailable at this time.

Speed, consumption of alcoholic beverages and lack of seat belt use are believed to be factors involved in the crash.

Troopers were assisted by the Seneca County Sheriff's Office, Bascom Fire and EMS and John's Towing.